Israel offers Gaza truce extension

Israel offers Gaza truce extension

Hamas yet to agree

BBC Online

A Palestinian boy stands next to the remains of a mosque in Khuzaa town, which witnesses said was heavily hit by Israeli shelling and air strikes during Israeli offensive, in the east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip August 6. Photo: Reuters

Israel has offered to extend a three-day ceasefire in Gaza which began on Tuesday after nearly a month of conflict, Israeli officials say.

But there has no far been no agreement from the militant Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, as indirect talks continue in Cairo.

US President Barack Obama has said a more durable truce requires risks being taken by leaders on both sides.

He said trust needs to rebuilt, which was difficult after a time of violence.

"Long term, there has to be a recognition that Gaza cannot sustain itself permanently closed off from the world," said the US president, speaking in Washington.

"In the most recent case of shelling on a UN facility, the Israelis were informed of the coordinates 33 times," Ban said. "Attacks against UN premises, along with other suspected breaches of international law, must be swiftly investigated."

Israel has been stung by widespread international criticism of its month-long bombing campaign in Gaza, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem.

Gaza's health ministry listed 1,867 people as killed. The UN says more than 1,300 were civilians, and more than 400 were children.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza have been returning to their homes. Many have found nothing left, reports the BBC's Jon Donnison, in Gaza.

Norway is organising a donor conference to help fund Gaza's reconstruction.

Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on 8 July with the stated aim of ending rocket attacks from Gaza.

On 17 July, it began ground operations intended to destroy tunnels used by militants to infiltrate Israel.